Wednesday, March 15, 2017

The Lighthouse of Alexandria


Alexandria, Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great in April 331 BC ,and became the capital of the Graeco-Egyptian world. The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria also was called "The Pearl of the Mediterranean". The ancient port city was home for one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - The Pharos of Alexandria (The Lighthouse of Alexandria).

Alexandria, Egypt was founded by Alexander the Great in April 331 BC ,and became the capital of the Graeco-Egyptian world. The second largest city in Egypt, Alexandria also was called "The Pearl of the Mediterranean". The ancient port city was home for one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - The Pharos of Alexandria (The Lighthouse of Alexandria).
The port served as a primary center for commerce and trade linking Europe with the Middle East and all other points along the Mediterranean Sea. It was an important route for merchants and travelers of ancient times that allowed for trade and cultural exchange between emergent peoples of the region. Within a few generations Alexandria become the largest city in the world second only to Rome. Much of the city design and construction came under the rule of Ptolemy and his successors, later by the Roman Empire. The city was not only a center for trade but also became the worlds first center for cultural and scientific research.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Mycenae-Cyclopean Walls

Mycenae (Μυκήνες) is one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece.  The founding of Mycenae is lost in prehistory, but according to Greek legends,  it was founded by the legendary hero Perseus - son of Zeus and Danae, daughter  of the king of Argos, Acricios - who left Argos for Tyrins and later employed  Cyclopes to build the walls of Mycenae with giant stones that no human could  move (thus the characterization of the walls as "Cyclopean").

Mycenae (Μυκήνες) is one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece.
The founding of Mycenae is lost in prehistory, but according to Greek legends,
it was founded by the legendary hero Perseus - son of Zeus and Danae, daughter
of the king of Argos, Acricios - who left Argos for Tyrins and later employed
Cyclopes to build the walls of Mycenae with giant stones that no human could
move (thus the characterization of the walls as "Cyclopean").



Friday, March 10, 2017

Tunnel of Eupalinos


The Eupalinos Tunnel is considered as one of the most important engineering achievements of antiquity. It's a 1036 m long tunnel in Samos Island, Greece, built in the 6th century BC to serve as an aqueduct and therefore supply fresh water from Agiades spring the city of Samos (Pythagoreion)

The Eupalinos Tunnel  is considered as one of the most important engineering achievements of antiquity. It's a 1036 m long tunnel in Samos Island, Greece, built in the 6th century BC to serve as an aqueduct and therefore supply fresh water from Agiades spring the city of Samos (Pythagoreion). The Eupalinos Tunnel is an engineering feat of outstanding importance since it was the first time in the history of mankind that anyone had ventured to undertake a project of that magnitude with no similar reference. The Engineer Eupalinos built a tunnel under a mountain by starting to dig, simultaneously, from two portals diametrically opposite. All applied measurements using maths and geometry are of outstanding precision. Moreover, all evidence indicate that Eupalinos was ready to apply a solution for every difficulty that arose, due to unfavorable ground conditions that were partly encountered, as well as that he had the courage to bring his highly difficult project to a successful end. Eupalinos worked as a modern engineer 2500 year ago.      


Monday, March 6, 2017

Olympias - The Trireme Replica



Olympias is a reconstruction of an ancient Athenian trireme and an important example of experimental archaeology. It is also acommissioned ship in the Hellenic Navy of Greece, the only commissioned vessel of its kind in any of the world's navies.

Olympias is a reconstruction of an ancient Athenian trireme and an important example of experimental archaeology. It is also acommissioned ship in the Hellenic Navy of Greece, the only commissioned vessel of its kind in any of the world's navies.